Thursday, September 15, 2016

Are Exterminators worth the money


Ants can be a particular nuisance when getting into homes. Garden or Black House ants aren’t thought to carry diseases, but the trouble is not knowing where foraging is outside, Them marching through food cupboards is a health risk. Ants will travel in a wide range searching for food, following trails establishing and clustering around the source of food, becoming a nuisance in homes, organizations and businesses.

Ants can enter homes for any number of reasons, but more than likely, for food. Homes and commercial business buildings just happens to be close to where a queen decided to set up a colony. There’s little chance that they’re going to go away on their own. Either have to learn how to get rid of ants, or let the Pest control for ants professionals take care of the Problem.


Ant Extermination-How to kill Remove and eliminate house ants

To find Ant nests, inspect along the carpet edges, doors, windows, and all areas of the kitchen. The easiest way to find a trail to the nest is to watch where ants go after reaching the food source. Finding Carpenter Ants through inspections at night is more effective since the larger Carpenter Ant is nocturnal. Try spotting Carpenter Ants emerging from damaged wood inside the house, or foraging outside in woodpiles, rotted or water damaged wood, and tree stumps. Outside the house, inspect around foundation walls, areas of vegetation, and mulch. Any vegetation found near patios and walls may hide some Ant nests or their trails.


Carpenter ants live in wood and tunnel through it. The best clue to look for is a small pile of very fine sawdust which are the remains of the wood that have been chewed through. Carpenter ants nest in moist wood located in foundations, decks, wood piles near houses, trees, gaps between boards, etc.

To figure out where ants are entering the house, track the ants back to the nest. Then exterminate all the ants in sight and watch for new ants to appear. Which will help to determine the general entry point. This may give clues to holes that need to be sealed up and possibly a rotting foundation or cracks under doors that give easy access.

Knowing the species of ant is important. Knowing the enemy,  will help find where the nest is, what sources of food are attracting them and which control extermination methods will be the most effective. For example, tiny black ants generally reside in their colony outdoors. They enter structures in order to scavenge for food such as sugar, starches and meat.


A tiny black ant infestation is best treated by following the ant’s trail back to the colony and treating the problem at the source. The next step would be sealing off all entry points so any remaining or future ants cannot get into the house or commercial business buildings. On the other hand, carpenter ants require a much more dedicated approach. Carpenter ants are very hard to control, especially since they prefer to nest in moist wood. These nests can cause wood damage, and since moist wood is typically found in previously damaged locations (e.g., places with leaks, foundations that were exposed to the elements, etc.), this can potentially create a bigger nuisance than just having a few ants walking across the counter. Carpenter ant nests are difficult to find since nesting is in a variety of locations both inside and outside the Property. A more thorough investigation will have to be conducted by a  ants control professional to determine the most effective pest control plan for battling carpenter ants. 

Cost of Ant Exterminators

Hiring a pest control service for ants  is the best way to get rid of ants. Ignoring the situation will not make the problem go away. The cost of calling in a pro to take care of the pest ant problem with no additional services or inspections can cost as little as $199.00  but it will not get rid of the ants in one treatment. Inspection and treatment wall voids where indicated: through electrical and plumbing, plates, and collars in areas of consistent or heavy activity. Inspection and treatment under and behind, baseboards and cabinetry. In some homes, treatment of roof beams and tongue and groove ceilings. Where possible, all natural, fresh water diatomaceous earth in areas where it will not become airborne. suggestions of drilling and injecting, or other effective treatment strategies. The average service includes treatment of the exterior, the attic & sub-areas, treatment of suspect wall voids, and spot treatment of interior activity.


Ants Extermination do it yourself pest control

Do-It-Yourself pest control methods may kill a few visible ants which may seem that the infestation has been taken care of. But it does nothing to eliminate the thousands upon thousands that are not visible. Ants may be in non-visible areas that can actively be damaging the structure of the home. Home remedies and Over the counter pesticide sprays may be used and act like repellants but may only extinguish ants on the surface and not at the unseen sources. Unlike other types of ants, baits do not work on Carpenter Ants. When given the chance to access their preferred food sources, aphid secretions and other live insects, Carpenter Ants may remove baits in their way, but will not consume them.Any Carpenter Ant Control strategy must eliminate all the ants homes and commercial business buildings, not just the ones seen, and protect  Properties from future damage and re-infestation.


Ant control products that can be purchased at local hardware store comes in many forms. It’s important to remember that these substances may be harmful if the product label directions are not followed. Unfortunately, in most cases won’t solve an ant infestation. Sprays are meant to kill the ants visible and act as a deterrent. Most over-the-counter products have no residual (or lasting) effect. If the ants are still able to enter the home or commercial business building, Ants will simply find a way around the spray. Plus, their colony will still be intact, producing more and more ants, all of which will be hungry. Some colonies are nearly impossible to reach without special equipment. If a colony or nest is located within  walls, a simple spray that anyone can buy will not be sufficient to properly treat the colony. Similarly, outdoor colonies can extend far below the surface, which is where most over-the-counter treatments stop working.


To prevent further Carpenter Ant infestations:

Trim all trees and bushes so branches do not touch the house.

Correct moisture problems such as leaky roofs and plumbing.

Paint and/or seal exposed wood construction before it becomes wet.

Replace rotted, water-damaged, and previously Ant-infested wooden parts of the structure.

Eliminate wood/soil contacts.


Remove dead stumps on the property and store firewood off the ground and away from the structure.

Extermination pest control company has access to higher grade products that can’t be found in the corner retail hardware stores. Depending on the pest problem and how extensive it is, using a professional grade product is often necessary for the best results getting rid of the pest quicker and will continue to be effective for a longer period of time


Professional pest control operators (PCOs) will generally provide the home, business property owner with a specific list of preparation activities, “prep,” that their company requires to complete prior to their visit. And because a lack of preparation could make a treatment unsafe or cause infestation of the entire home or building, many PCOs will not treat areas that are not prepped to their specifications. Although each company should provide its customers with a specific list of steps, there are some general rules of thumb for prepping for service. DIY Do It Yourself pest control & prevention techniques. This includes controlling and preventing pests such as Sugar ants, Tiny small little black ants, ants, mice and rats, termites, spiders, and silverfish. It will also include pest control & pest prevention techniques for pantry pest like meal moths and flour beetles, and gnats like fruit flies, drain flies and fungus gnats. Sometimes it is better to hire a pest control professional than to try to do it yourself. This is particularly true if the pest problem is ongoing, if the infestation has become large, or if the products needed for control are only authorized for use by certified professionals.


The Experience of pest control Extermination Before allowing the pest control expert to enter the home, ask to see his or her identification, license, and certification, and check to ensure it is current. Almost every state requires that technicians be certified, and that pest control professional participate in annual training to keep the license current. The Pest control service CompanyIs the company bonded and insured? This can be important to both protect the property and protect against liability. Visit the company’s website. Does it appear professional? Is it knowledgeable? Do its value correspond with the norm?

The pest exterminator, should be knowledgeable enough to answer pest control questions. There may be a question or two that pest control representative does not know off-hand, and, if so, willing to find out . It is better to hear an honest “I don’t know, but I’ll find out,” than to be given a wrong or made-up answer.

When exterminators comes to the door, her uniform and overall appearance should be clean and professional. The truck, equipment, and chemicals should also provide the with a secure feeling of professionalism.

Before calling a pest control company, ask friends and neighbors for referrals. Check with the state pest control association, or visit www.npma.com for a state-by-state list of providers. It is always wise to check any company with the Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org). 

The lowest price is not always the best deal. If a company says it will solve the problem in one service for $X, and the problem still exists after payment for that service,  most likely need to start over with another pest control service and end up paying a great deal more than  choosing quality over price the first time.

Hiring a pest control company for ongoing service, discuss the options with the pest control service.


Will quarterly service take care of the problem? How about monthly service? Perhaps start with monthly, or more frequent, service to eliminate the problem, then drop to a less frequent maintenance schedule once it is solved. Be sure to read the contract carefully, understand all fine print, and ask questions before signing on the line.

Before attempting any service, the pest control exterminator should discuss exactly what the problem is, find out where and what’s going on, and ask probing questions to ensure she fully understands the pest problem. Following that discussion, the pest control technician should inspect the home or building through a professional eye, identify the pest or pests, and set a treatment plan.


In many cases the pest control expert will use chemicals for elimination, but  should be willing to discuss the chemicals to use, any possible adverse effects, and any non-chemical options. All chemical containers should be labeled and have a clean, professional appearance. Upon request, the technician should be able to provide a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) and specimen label for each chemical used.

After completing service, the pest exterminator should provide a report detailing the service performed, any necessary follow-up action, and any customer advice. 


The pest control report should also detail the service costs.

At some point during service, the technician should make recommendations for future prevention. Depending on the service being performed, it is possible that this could come before, during, or after service. For example, if the inspection reveals a potential pest harborage area, the technician should inform and recommend immediate clean-up. If a structural issue is found, the technician may wait until the end and recommend maintenance, such as screen replacement or repairing of holes.

Many pest control companies offer guarantees, even if it is as simple as “Guaranteed satisfaction.” Be sure to read the fine print of this as well, know what the responsibilities are and how to invoke the guarantee if needed.





Pests, such as pavement ants, are attracted to moisture. To prevent black pavement ants, eliminate standing water around the home. Keep tree branches and other plants cut back from the house. pavement ants use these branches to get into your home. Make sure that there are no cracks or little openings around your house. Ensure firewood and building materials are not stored next to your home because pavement ants like to build nests in stacks of wood. Indoors, clean up spills and crumbs 98126. Published by Ampm Exterminators.  #Ant Exterminator Seattle #Ant Exterminator Cost #Ant Exterminators Mercer island #Ant Exterminators in

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